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For a European Residency Permit

International Solidarity Day in Ventimiglia

Progetto 20k

Progetto 20k invites all the realities, the associations, the indipendent unions, the groups and every single person that deals with themes regarding immigration policies or that believes in solidarity, to participate in the organization of the 14th of July mobilisation in Ventimiglia. We forsee this common journey as a unique opportunity of sharing and cooperation among those that, although in different territories and coming from different backgrounds, still share the same horizons of meaning: the idea of a society without borders, without class, gender or national boundaries and a need of a European residency permit, while rethinking immigration policies.

In a Europe whose countries are closing up behind armies and new walls, that let goods pass but not people looking for a new life, Ventimiglia well represents the violation of the Schengen treaty, which used to stand for freedom of movement within Europe. Ventimiglia symbolizes the consequences of the violent and failing migrant policies implemented by Italy (Minniti-Orlando ruling) and Europe (Dublin III agreement), unable to respond to the needs and claims of those attempting to cross the border. The “wrong skin color” puts them at risk to be caught in one of the many police controls that often openly violate international policies and treaties, as the continuous reiterated refuse of entrance applied to non accompanied minors arriving from Italy. Controls often end up in collective forced transfers to detention centers in the South of Italy, an inhuman, and uselessly expensive, practice as people are back in Ventimiglia just a few days after the forced transfer, trying once again to cross the border.

The big reception centres are too often places of segregation and dehumanization, places that push towards infantilazation of migrant people to whom human dignity and basic human rights are denied. Too often in Ventimiglia people prefer to sleep in the streets or on the beach, where nothing is available and hygienic and sanitary conditions are precarious, as the available Italian Red Cross camp is 5km outside town constantly garrisoned by police and military forces. For three years there have been forced evacuations of the informal camp, the water fountains were turned off, and protected spaces for women and children, as the Church of the Gianchette, were closed. An ensemble of “solutions” that make it even worse.

Ventimiglia is also the symbol of violence against women and minors that often start their journey to escape from the patriarchal violence in their country of origin. Gender violence though, remains a constant during their whole journey while everyone is watching. Transiting women have no access to the health system, to unwanted pregnancies and transferable diseases prevention or interruption; the conditions in which they are “welcomed” in Ventimiglia and elsewhere, are precarious and do not protect them from the risk of becoming “exchange goods” entering the trafficking network that feeds the prostitution market.

For all these reasons, while in Europe all forms of active solidarity are under attack: slanders against NGOs, erection of new physical and legal walls, thousands of oral notices, expulsion orders and charges of activists guilty of solidarity, we call you to build together a collective mobilization with and of the migrant people. A day of solidarity for freedom of movement, to get out of the media isolation and lay claim to dignity and people indipendence during their journey, to declare the humanity and the legitimacy of solidarity. To give strength and visibility to the claims of migrant people and solidarity initiatives across Europe (from Spain to Greece passing by Calais) against the violence of immigration policies and borders.